Quasi-distributed liquid level measurement with adaptable optical fiber transducers

Abstract

A level and flexible quasi-distributed liquid sensor based on the changes in the light transmittance in a plastic optical fiber cable is proposed. The measurement points are constituted by small areas created by side-polishing on a curved fiber and the removal of a portion of the core. These points are distributed and adapted on each full-turn of a spire of fiber built on a cylindrical tube vertically positioned in a tank. The changes between the refractive indexes of air and liquid generate a signal power proportional to the position and level of the liquid. The sensor system was successfully demonstrated in the laboratory and experimental results of three prototypes with 10, 8, and 5 measurement points and with bend radius of 5mm are presented in this paper.